Assembly for connecting a boot to a ski, and an adapter to be used in said assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an assembly ( 1 ) for connecting a boot to a ski ( 2 ), including a binding ( 3 ) arranged to be connected to the boot, and a section ( 4 ) of the top surface ( 5 ) of the ski ( 2 ) arranged to be connected to an essentially plate-like adapter ( 6 ) between the binding ( 3 ) and the section ( 4 ), the adapter ( 6 ) being arranged to increase the distance between at least a part of the underside ( 7 ) of the binding ( 3 ) and the top surface ( 5 ) of the ski ( 2 ). A first locking device ( 9 ) is arranged on the underside ( 7 ) of the binding ( 3 ) for locking the binding ( 3 ) to the adapter ( 6 ) via a corresponding second locking device ( 10 ) on the top side ( 11 ) of the adapter ( 6 ). Furthermore, a third locking device ( 13 ) is arranged on the underside ( 12 ) of the adapter ( 6 ) for locking the adapter ( 6 ) to the section ( 4 ) via a corresponding fourth locking device ( 14 ). The first locking device ( 9 ) on the binding ( 3 ) corresponds in addition to the fourth locking device ( 14 ) on the section ( 4 ) in order to permit direct connection of the binding ( 3 ) to the ski ( 2 ) without the use of the adapter ( 6 ). The invention also relates to an adapter ( 6 ) for use in the assembly ( 1 ).

The present invention relates to an assembly for connecting a boot to aski, and more specifically it relates an assembly as disclosed in thepreamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to an adapter for usein the assembly, as disclosed in the preamble of claim 14.

Different skiers have different individual preferences as regards thepositioning of the binding in relation to the ski, and thus thepositioning of the skier's boot and foot during skiing. Such preferencesmay relate to the height of the skier's boot above ground level, forexample, in order to avoid the boot coming into contact with the groundduring skating or when turning. Further preferences may be the heel-toeangle where the skier's heel and toe lie at different vertical levels,or the edging angle where the external is and the internal long side ofthe binding lie at different vertical levels.

A spacer for use between a cross-country binding and a ski is previouslyknown from EP 2108413 A1, where the cross-country binding is attached tothe ski via bolts or screws passed through the ski binding and thespacer. The spacer in EP 2108413 A1 may have a heel-toe angle as can beseen, inter alia, from FIG. 1.

From WO 2005/113081 A1, which belongs to the Applicant, there ispreviously known a system for mounting a cross-country or telemarkbinding directly to a ski without the use of screws or the like, themounting plate being glued to the ski, where the binding is slide-guidedand snapped into place at the desired position on the mounting plate,and where the binding can later easily be removed or adjusted to adifferent desired position by means of the same slide-guiding andsnap-locking principle. The system described in WO 2005/113081 A1 isknown as the NIS system, where NIS stands for Nordic Integrated System.

A problem with the system described in EP 2108413 A1 is that it is veryfiddly to remove the spacer, to adjust the position of the spacer andthus the position of the binding on the ski, or to replace the spacerwith another spacer with different user properties/configuration.Drilling new holes for a new position on the ski might also impair thestrength of the ski and the use properties of the ski might be altered.

The present invention seeks to remedy the aforementioned or otherdisadvantages or drawbacks by means of an assembly having the featuresdisclosed in the characterising clause of claims 1 and 14, respectively.An object of the invention is thus to provide an assembly including abinding, an adapter/spacer and a ski, where the user can easily switchbetween different adapters or use the binding and the ski without theuse of an adapter.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependentclaims.

In the following description, non-limiting embodiments of the inventionare described with reference to the appended drawings, wherein

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are two perspective views, obliquely from above andobliquely from below respectively, of a first embodiment of the assemblyaccording to the invention, with two planar adapters for the binding andheel piece respectively; and

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are two perspective views, obliquely from above andobliquely from below respectively, of a second embodiment according tothe invention, with one wedge-shaped adapter for the binding.

With reference to the figures, an assembly 1 is shown for connecting aboot to a ski 2, including a binding 3 arranged to be connected to theboot, and a section 4 of the top surface 5 of the ski 2 arranged to beconnected to an essentially plate-like adapter 6 between the binding 3and the section 4, the adapter 6 being arranged to increase the distancebetween at least a part of the underside 7 of the binding 3 and the topsurface 5 of the ski 2.

A first locking device 9 is arranged on the underside 7 of the binding 3for locking the binding 3 to the adapter 6 via a corresponding secondlocking device 10 on the top side 11 of the adapter 6. Furthermore, athird locking device 13 is arranged on the underside 12 of the adapter 6for locking the adapter 6 to the section 4 via a corresponding fourthlocking device 14. The first locking device 9 on the binding 3corresponds in addition to the fourth locking device 14 on the section 4in order to permit direct connection of the binding 3 to the ski 2without the use of the adapter 6.

The locking devices 9, 10, 13, 14 advantageously include correspondingsliding grooves and locking catches for slide-guiding to a fasteningposition via said sliding groove, whereafter locking in the slidingdirection takes place by snap engagement via said locking catches.

The fastening position between the adapter 6 and the section 4 isadvantageously adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski 2, aplurality of locking notches being provided along the length of thesection 4 for locking in a corresponding number of fastening positions.However, the fastening position between the binding 3 and the adapter 6is advantageously fixed and cannot be adjusted.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the assembly 1 advantageouslyincludes a separate adapter 15 for connection between the section 4 anda separately arranged heel piece 16 of the binding 3, the adapter 6having an essentially identical thickness along its longitudinaldirection.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the adapter 6advantageously has a steadily diminishing thickness or wedge shape alongits longitudinal direction (toe-heel angle), and diminishing from aforward part of the adapter 6 which corresponds to a forward part of thebinding 3, the wedge shape allowing connection of the separatelyarranged heel piece 16 of the binding directly on the section 4 withoutthe use of adapter 15.

On the underside 12 of the adapter 6 there is advantageously provided atleast one weakened portion 17, 18 extending transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the adapter 6 to facilitate the bending motionof the ski 2 in its longitudinal direction.

On each side of the long side of the adapter 6 there is advantageouslyarranged an edge 19 extending in the longitudinal direction whichprojects sideways beyond the width of the section 4, a longitudinalgroove being provided in the edge 19 for sliding accommodation of acorresponding longitudinal edge 20 on each of the respective sides ofthe section 4.

Weight-saving cut-outs are advantageously provided in the adapter 6,where X-shaped reinforcing ribs 21 are arranged in the cut-outs.Furthermore, the adapter 6 is advantageously made of plastic.

The section 4 is advantageously integrally configured with the ski 2,for example, glued to the top surface of the ski, and of the NIS type asdescribed in WO 2005/113081 A1, belonging to the Applicant, where thedifferent fastening and engaging surfaces between the binding 3 and thesection 4 are described in detail.

To release the locking of the catches, there is advantageously provideda suitable, separate (non-illustrated) tool with an end for insertioninto a depression or a hole 22 arranged in a top surface of eachrespective locking catch, the locking catch being flipped up from itslocking engagement by tilting the tool. Alternatively, an ordinary,suitable screwdriver with a flat head can be used.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated anddescribed here, but can be varied within the scope of the attachedclaims.

1. An assembly for connecting a boot to a ski, including a bindingarranged to be connected to the boot, and a section of the top surfaceof the ski arranged to be connected to an essentially plate-like adapterbetween the binding and the section, the adapter being arranged toincrease the distance between at least a part of the underside of thebinding and the top surface of the ski, comprising: a first lockingdevice arranged on the underside of the binding for locking the bindingto the adapter via a corresponding second locking device on the top sideof the adapter; that a third locking device arranged on the underside ofthe adapter for locking the adapter to the section via a correspondingfourth locking device, the first locking device on the bindingcorresponding in addition to the fourth locking device on the section inorder to permit direct connection of the binding to the ski without theuse of the adapter, the adapter including corresponding sliding groovesand locking catches for slide-guiding to a fastening position via saidsliding grooves, in order to permit locking in the sliding direction bymeans of snap engagement via said locking catches.
 2. The assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the fastening position between the adapterand the section is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski,a plurality of locking notches being provided along the length of thesection for locking in a corresponding number of fastening positions. 3.The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the fastening positionbetween the binding and the adapter is fixed and cannot be adjusted. 4.The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising including aseparate adapter for connection between the section and a separatelyarranged heel piece of the binding, the adapter having an essentiallyidentical thickness along its longitudinal direction.
 5. The assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein the adapter has a steadily diminishingthickness or wedge shape along its longitudinal direction, anddiminishing from a forward part of the adapter which corresponds to aforward part of the binding, the wedge shape allowing connection of theseparately arranged heel piece of the binding directly on the sectionwithout the use of adapter.
 6. The assembly according to claim 1 whereinon the underside of the adapter there is provided at least one weakenedportion extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of theadapter to facilitate the bending motion of the ski in its longitudinaldirection.
 7. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein on each side ofthe long side of the adapter there is arranged an edge extending in thelongitudinal direction which projects sideways beyond the width of thesection, a longitudinal groove being provided in the edge for slidingaccommodation of a corresponding longitudinal edge on each of therespective sides of the section.
 8. The assembly according to claim 1wherein a number of weight-saving cut-outs are provided in the adapter,and where X-shaped reinforcing ribs are arranged in the cut-outs.
 9. Theassembly according to claim 1 wherein the adapter is made of plastic.10. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the section is of plasticand is integrally configured with the top surface of the ski.
 11. Theadapter for use in an assembly as disclosed in claim 1.